Spanish Fork family turns bee hobby into business.

Enjoyed this Story,  Keep up the Great Work Amy and Riley!

Chad

Apis Hive & Honey Co.

Every year we sell package bees to people who want to start a bee hive.  Where do these bees come from?  How do they get from here to there?  Whats is the process and how do I buy bees?  I mean how does a beekeeper get new bees? Most beekeepers will get bees one of two ways. They can buy what are called package bees. These are bees that are collected from other hives and put into a screened box.  About 3 to 4 pounds of bees are in the box, a small wooden cage is included inside. It holds a queen bee which was raised in a separate hive.  It is not the bees in the screend box, but it will become their queen eventually.  The Queen is put in a cage for her own protection. Having just come from the hive they were raised in and being familiar with the queen from that hive, these bees need time to get used to the new queen. Until then, they are as likely to kill her, but the little queen cage protects her from the

3 Lb. of Packages Bees with a Marked Queen

aggressive 3-4 pounds of bees that she’s stuck with.  Once the queen cage is inside, a can of sugar syrup is inserted into the top. It has tiny holes in the bottom, or a tight cloth inserted into a larger hole.  This is how the bees feed during their trip to a new hive. Packages of bees like the one in this picture are shipped from California or Southern States where spring arrives much earlier.  They then supply to beekeepers all over the country. A hobby beekeeper with one or two hives can get packages delivered to Salt Lake City, Grand Junction or Denver Colorado  area threw our company Apis Hive & Honey Co. of Grand Junction Colorado.

To make these package bees commercial beekeepers use a few methods.  One of these methods uses what we call a Shaker Box.  This is similar to a medium honey super.  Some shaker boxes will have frames in them that will not have comb but fins, or smooth surfaces.  The bees will climb on them and then when placed over the funnel will be tap or shook off the fins.  All the bees are shook into the funnel and captured.  The queen excluder will prevent her from joining

Queens in cages, ready to be placed into a cluster of new bees

the rest of the bees in the capture box below.  In the capture box the keeper can fill the screened cage with a desired weight.  Thats when a caged queen will be introduced and the bees get the feeder can.  Within minutes the bees will cluster around the new caged queen and the cage is then ready for the road.  These bees then make a road trip to you the new Bee Keeper or other keepers who are restoring winter losses.  You can watch a install video here. You can order package bees here.

The second way to get bees is by buying what is called a nucleus hive or”nuc”.  It is a half size version of a regular hive with a queen that has been accepted by the bees and has started laying eggs. Nucs are typically available for pick up and don’t ship in large quantities like 100′s as well.  These nucs are typically made up in the early Spring prior to

Spring Nucs in Grand Junction Colorado

swarming season.  Brood, Bees, and Honey are placed in a smaller card board box.  No queen from the orginal hive.  She stays with her own hive.  The new nuc will then be queen less for a half a day or so.  Later that day a queen is introduced in a small cage.  The bees will likely try to kill her at first, but then grow warm to the idea that she is a newly raised queens and do what they can to release her.  Once released she then takes her rightful place as queen of the hive.  You can watch video of how we make our nucs.  You can order nucs here.

A early Summer Swarm

A third way a beekeeper can get bees. Is to wait for a wild swarm.  Although this is likely to occur many times during the spring time, the bees that swarm can be captured.  There are some issues relying on this method as most of you can figure.  One major issue is being available to go get the swarm when you need to.  Another is the condition of the queen, and typically feral bees can be more aggressive.  Although many people think that “local feral” bees are a good idea, other will avoid them like the plague.  We encourage beginning keepers to buy, a nuc or a package if you want a more reliable method of getting bees.

Here at Apis Hive Co.  We only deliver bees and do  not ship via US Postal, or UPS.

Our 2012 drop locations this Spring are:

• Utah, Salt Lake
• Grand Junction Colorado
• Denver, Colorado.

Continue to expand the video library

1. We will show you how we make early full hive splits,  which in turn encourage local/wild queen stock.
2. Continue comb honey on a budget, and find places to market it.
3. Queen comparisons survey on the sight
4. Create a poll for those of you who may of bought bees from us.
5. Nucs VS Packages
6. Top Bar Hive process, and tips
7. Pollen trap process and harvesting, continue to trap and sell pollen online
8. If I’m lucky we will build a top bar out of pine beetle kill here in Colorado

Two experiments for us Bees and Selling Package Bees in 2012

1. A continuation of learning the best way to get bees here to our region safely and less stressed.
2. To feed or not to feed.  We will follow hives that will get fed VS. not fed in the same location.  I look forward to posting our results from 2011.  Folks it looks like feeding is generally a plus for bee health.

Additional 2012 Beekeeping Goals

• Market our New Honey Buttermilk Sryup at the bakery and Farmers Mkt. It’s excellent! We did that sorta in 2011, but we will continue to bottle that up.
• Create a new WordPress template just for keepers.  We do share this but for 2012 we will be marketing our site for sale.  I hope to get our site so up date that the other keepers who have inquired how we do this can learn quickly and easily.  With the power of WordPress they could customize, color, logo, ect. but the lay out and some of our content could be shared as desired to help the Bee Keeping community.  This would be such a great opportunity for us to help those who want a website that looks professional yet timeless.  This is why we do what we do.  In 2012 we look forward to kicking this can further down the road.
• The online store will be open up year around.  We will start selling honey, wax, and pollen.
• Another goal for 2012 is to get profiles and pictures of our queen providers.  I think we show those who purchase our Nucs should know where the queens are coming from.  What a great bunch of people we work with.
• Grow our colonies from approx. 500- 600.
• Build more bear fences, one in the La Salle district at the end of Glade Park.  Add more on Pinon Mesa.
• Sell our Honey Stores
• Continue to help the CSBA find a better way in helping small clubs offer value to it’s members
• Continue to speak to all Clubs in the Rocky Mt. Region on growing complementary businesses and living my dream.
• A very good friend of my has a really nice insect labortory right here in Grand Junction.  His microscopes and additonal insect studing equipment is cutting edge.  On top of that he’s a keeper too!  I hope to get in there and look at bees from the inside out.  I have a lot to learn.  This is just the start.
• Get out of Debt and Keep Healthy Bees for 2012.
• Avoid getting sprayed with pesticides
• For sell the very best Package Bees in 2012

Which type of queen do I choose?

Here in the Rocky Mt. we are one of the largest suppliers of Package Bees to Salt Lake City and Denver Colorado.  Although Apis Hive Co. is a smaller commercial Honey bee company we consistently provide clubs, and solo hobbyist with the best honey bees out there.  Were excited about this year for two big reasons.  1st  The bees look great at this time of year.  Although California has be dryer than normal, the weather has allowed our operation to see increased growth to hives.  We are a bit nervous that the bees may out grow the hive by mid March, but we will be managing that grow at the end of March and 1st of April by making Nucs, and preparing for package bees. And 2nd this years queen providers are optimistic and excited as they prepare to set up the processes and start producing queens in March and April.

Listed below are some thoughts that will give you an idea of what we offer.  Although photos are of queens, both of them are not marked yellow dot like yours will be.  The dot will be very helpful as you colony grows and it becomes slightly more difficult to a untrained eye.  I highly recommend either the Italian queen or a Carniolian queen.  These are available in our nucs and packages that we sell in April/May.  I think you have best chance to really see the processes and steps the hive will go threw.  Listed below are the pros and cons.  If you have additional questions please feel free to email us at info@apishive.com.

Italian Queens

Italian Queen

Pros

• They build up (grow in size) extremly quick if proper resources are available
• They are generally well mannered, and will in most cases be the best choice for back yard keepers or beginner keepers.
• Hygienic behavior can be a strength to the Italian
• With the build up comes numbers, numbers of bee can produce larger quantities of honey
• Relatively resistant to deseases, but not eliminated or immune.
• Great Comb Builder
• Low levels propolis producer
• Mite resistant stock, but still battles mite issues.

Cariolian

It’s finally here!  I’ve been working really hard on getting our new logo and the ecommerce store launched.  It taken me two months longer than expected but this new store is so much better at selling the bees and honey bee equipment.   What I really like about it is it has you make an account.  That way when you come back to add stuff it keeps all your bee gear in order.  You can come and go as you please.  It’s also so much easier to follow.  Hopefully you will like as much as I do. You might notice to our new logo.  Rod and I worked on it for about 6 months total.  Check out the process on the our blog.  It was a bit crazy, but were really please with they way it turned out.  I’ll be interested in seeing how that all works with our honey on self’s at the market.

Many of you will be writing in disappointed that we will not be delivering nucs to SLC or Denver.  I found it really hard to make that happen safely and timely.  I hope we can find a spot on the website where people can chat and coordinate pick ups.  We have few clubs making a trip over to pick up 5 frame nucs for and on behalf of many of you in the bee clubs.  Were excited to see new clubs placing orders from both Utah and Colorado.  That pick up date will be late April to early May.  I apologize for anyone who really wanted that service.  Maybe next year I can change that.

If you have any problems with the new ecommerce, just let me know.  I’m pretty sure we will we will have a few hiccups.

Regards
Chad

I also wanted the logo to be original unique but I’m pretty sure that I told rod when you see our honey on the shelf that threse no mistake when you see it that it’s honey.

These were just couple of ideas that I had sent him  these were our choices that Rod started with

.

Here are some of what our products will look like hitting the shelfs soon!

Thanks for reading

Chad

Keeper of Bees

2012 Spring Bee Packages with “MARKED” colored dot Pendell Italian Queens

Apishive Co. has established a solid clientele of both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers. Every spring we sell hundreds of quality bee Packages in the Rocky Mountain Region. Our no money down threw the years has brought us to honorable crossroads, however this year we will be asking nicely to have those who want to confirm to pre pay. Those who want to make a reservation with the option to cancel can. Our prepaid option ensures that you will get bees in the order that we take your payment. One of drop points this year will be in Salt Lake City, Utah.  We are using Pendell Queens and  Koehnen queens in our Packages that we offer. Frank and Sheri Pendell have great reputation of raising quality queens.  Each queen is “Marked” with a colored dot for ease for finding her, and has a pedigree that Frank and Sheri are proud of. Were excited to help them share the success their known for with you. We have have a limited supply of these packages. The ETA of these packages is April 21th threw the 28th 2012.

2012 PRICES

3Lb Packages of Bees with a marked Pendell Queen: $94.00 ea. (marked Italian only in 3# package)

5 Frame Nucs are also available $110.00 ea. We plan to have both Carnolian and Italian Queens, provided from Big Island Queens, Koehnen Queens, Bee Weaver, and Pendell. These are all very reputable queen breeders. We no not raise queens at this time.

Description of our 5 Frame Deep Nucs: We respectfully place these Nucs with more than enough brood, honey, pollen, to establish a healthy honeybee colony. Here’s what’s included in your Nuc.

OUR PROMISE

One Cardboard Nuc Box

3 FRAMES OF BROOD & BEES

1 FRAME OF HONEY

1 NEW FRAME NON-DRAWN OUT FOUNDATION

2012 Spring Italian Queen more gold in color, Cross Bred for Hardiness, Hygienic Behavior, Mite Resistance and High Honey Production.

2012 Spring Carniolan Queen that will be darker in over all color, Hygienic Behavior, Gentle, Forages Greater Distance, Average Honey Production, Robbs less.

A tip on queen selection:We use both of these queens in our operation. They both have a place in Utah Beekeeping. I sell both breeds as to give you a choice. We sell each equally.

We Guarantee that all queens will have been establishing the Nuc for at least three weeks minimum before we release the Nuc for sale. This generally has been a recipe for success. This gives you the buyer some piece of mind. Although many of our customers praise our bees, we cannot guarantee any statement of health, nor can we claim that our bees will be 100% free of pest hitchhikers, however your success as a beekeeper matters to us. Proper placement, feeding, forage, and bee care can make your colony a success. Be sure to see our “how to” videos for additional information!

We start taking orders on January 20th 2012 and will continue to take orders until we are sold out some time early March 2012.
Please email Chad for additional information: info@apishive.com
We reserve the right to change the type of queen in our nucs, or packages.

Orders can be placed here after January 20th www.apishive.com

We have lot’s of info on keeping bees at: www.apishive.com

Vanishing Of The Bees.

Busy bees: More Coloradans tending backyard hives – The Denver Post.

Gregg does a great job!  I’m sure happy we have great people in our region like, Gregg McMahan.

Thanks.  Sorry it took so long for me to see this.

Chad

Regards
Apis Hive Co.

U.S. Honey Crops and Markets.